Normality finally resumed on Wednesday night as I boarded the 5.25 train to Glasgow, accompanied by my two teenage chaperones, Boy Child and friend.

We were heading to my favourite venue too!

Yes, we were off to the city’s O2 ABC to see Brian Fallon and the Crowes.

(For those of you going “who?”, Brian Fallon is the front man of New Jersey rock band The Gaslight Anthem who are currently on an indefinite hiatus…was it something we said when we saw them at the O2 Academy last summer?)

I’d bought the tickets to this O2 ABC show months ago, long before Brian Fallon released his solo album, Painkillers. I took the gamble that the genre wouldn’t vary dramatically from his other projects. The gamble paid off (to be honest I was pretty sure it would) as Painkillers emerged as a fantastic rootsy rock album last month.

First on stage was Jared Hart. A familiar looking face and a familiar voice? Yes, it was. He was the front man with The Scandals, a fellow New Jersey band, who had supported The Gaslight Anthem last year. Alone on stage ,with his acoustic guitars, he delivered a solid six song support set. As he performed, the room was slowly filling up, but Jared engaged expertly with the Scottish crowd. Personally, I love the gravel in his voice so he’d won me over right from the start. Definitely a man to watch out for!

Next up were Good Old War, a duo from Philadelphia. I’m kind of at a loss as to how to describe these guys. Do you remember the TV show The Wonder Years? Do you recall Kevin’s geeky friend Paul? Yes? Well, that’s my best description of the singer with Good Old War. This duo played a blessedly short eight song set. To listen to, they were a poor man’s Everly Brothers. I’m sorry, they missed the mark entirely for me. The Glasgow crowd were gentle with them – something the duo should be thankful for – and they’ve lived to harmonise another day.

As the smoke swirled on stage, the lights dimmed then bright spotlights sent beams of light onto the stage as Brian Fallon and the Crowes stepped out to rapturous cheers, opening their ninety minute set with Smoke. Instantly the passionate crowd were on side and singing along in fine voice. The moment and the warmth of the welcome wasn’t lost on Mr Fallon who was grinning from ear to ear.

There were five Crowes out on stage with him who included a couple of members of The Gaslight Anthem plus Jared Hart (remember him?) on acoustic guitar and backing vocals.

The entire set was interspersed with some relaxed banter between Messrs Fallon and Hart, some of which was highly entertaining in itself.

Most of the songs on the setlist were from Brian Fallon’s Painkillers album with a few Horrible Crowes and Molly and the Zombie numbers thrown in.

A highlight of the night, but perhaps a bit of a gamble in front of a Scottish crowd, was a fabulous rendition of Billy Bragg’s New England. Brilliant song!

Mid-set Brian switched from his well-worn Telecaster to a Martin acoustic. A delicate keyboard intro from Alex Rosamilia tipped the audience off as to what was coming next. It was the beautiful ballad Honey Magnolia. Simply stunning.

After a brief chat about literature with the audience and Jared Hart and more than a few laughs at the expense of Harry Potter, Brian Fallon played one of my favourite songs from Painkillers, Steve McQueen. The audience was in fine voice as they sang along to this incredible song. Magical moment.

Glasgow was also treated to a premiere performance of Mojo Hand. (A mojo hand originates from African American hoodoo and is a spell or a prayer in a bag) Now this song was THE highlight of the night for me. I love it! Seeing the band play this and have as much fun as the audience were having made it all the more special. I adore Brian Fallon’s vocal on this one. That extra spoonful of husky gravel is sheer brilliance.

In true Brian Fallon fashion, he declared towards the latter end of the set that there would be no encore. He doesn’t see the sense in the pretence of ending things only to come back out to play two or three songs that you knew you were intending to play right from the start. And you know, I have to agree with him.

The last few numbers were a little harder, a little heavier and more lively than the bulk of the set and these boys went out in a blaze of glory. Mary Ann, a Molly and the Zombie song, almost raised the roof off the room.

Then, one song later, it was all over with a swift goodbye.

The Crowes had flown.